The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-12

How Victor Hugo Came to Create that Pitt
full Character.

How Victor Hugo Came to Create that Pitt
full Character.
st. James Gazette.
Everyone who has read Lies Miserablesr-and
who has not?-must have been profoundly moved
with sympathy and intense pity for poor Fan
tine In his Things Seem" which has just
made its appearance in English Dress the great
Frenchman thus describes the germ of fact to
which we owe his imperishable ideaization of
the unfortunate" 1t is peculiarly appropriate
just now when Sir R. Fowler. Mr.. Howard Vim
cent, Mr.. Acand, Mr.. Mitchell. and the rest
/ demanding that the police must be more strin
gent in their dealings with women in the streets.
Victor Hugo elected to the Academic
Tuesday. Two days afterward Nine de Girar
din, who lived at that time in the Rue Laffitte,
invited him to dinner. At this dinner Blu
geaud, vet only general, who had been APP
pointed Governor-general Of Algeria and who
was just going out to his post. Victor Hugo left
Nine. de Girardin rather early. 1t was on the
SSh of January. It was showing in large fakes.
He had on thin shoes, and when he was in the
street he that it was impossible to return
foot. He went along the Rue Taitbout. know
ing that there was cab rank on the boulevard
at the corner of that street There was cab
there. He waited for ono to come He
thus waiting like an orderly on duty when
he saw young man. well and stylshly dressed,
stoop and pick up great handful of snow and
put it down the back of a woman of the streets,
who stood at the corner OF tho boulevard In
low-necked dress. The woman uttered pierre
ing shrek, fell upon the dandy, and struck him.
The young man returned the blow, the woman
responded, and the battle went on in a crescendo
vigorously and TO sucn eXtromlt1e8 that the
police FASTENED to tho spot They seized hold
of the woman and did not touch the
Seeing the police laying hands upon her, the
unfortunate woman struggled with them. But
when she was securely seized she manifested
the deepest grief While two policemen were
pushing her along, each holding one OF her
arms, she shouted: 81 have done harm, I
assure you! It il the gentleman who iuterfered
with me. l am not guilty; implore you to let
me alonel have done no harm, really really"
'Come, move on you will have six months for
lin hnc ar hes
words, you will have six months for this busi-
nese." once moro began to defend her conduct,
and redoubied her supplcations and entrcaties
The policemen. not much moved by her tears,
dragged her to police station in the Rue
Chauchat, at the back of the Opera Victor
Hugo. interested in spite of himself the
happy woman, followed them, amidst that
crowd of people which is never wanting on such
occasion.
Arriving near the station. Victor Hugo con-
ceved the idea of going in and taking up the
cause OF the woman. But he said to himself
that he was well known, that just then the news
papers had been full of his name for two days
past, and that to mix himself I'D in such af
fair was to lay himself open to all kinds of dis
agreeable banter In short he did not 60 in.
The Office into which the girl had been taken
was on the ground floor. overlooking the street.
He looked through the windows at what was go
ing He saw the poor woman lie down upon
the floor In despair, and tear her hair
to reflect. and the result Of his
reflections was that he decided to 60 in. When
before table. lighted by candle. writing.
turned round ana said to him in sharp, per-
emptory tone of voice: what do you want
sir2" ''Sr. I was witness of what took place
just now; come to make deposition to
what / saw, and to speak to you in this womans
favor" At these words the looked at
Victor HUGO in mute establishment, and
though Gazed. your deposition, more or less
interested. will be unavailng. This woman has
been guilty of an assault a public thorough
fare. She struck a gentleman. She will get
six months imprisonment for it" The woman
once more began to cry, scream, and roll over
and Other women, who had come and
Joined her, said to her: 1--WE will come and
see you. Never mind. We will bring you some
linen things. Take that for the present. and at
the same time they gave her money and sweet
meats. when you know who / am" said
Victor Hugo, you will, perhaps. change your
manner and tone, and will listen to me- WHO
you. thenF
Victor Hugo saw reason for not giving his
name. He gave his name. The commissary
police. for he was a commissary of police,
prolific of excuses, and became as polite ana
deferential he had before been arrogant.
offered him chair. and begged him to be good
enough to be seated. Victor Hugo told him
that he had seen with his own eyes q gentleman
pick up snowba and throw it down the back
of the woman; that the latter. who could not
see the gentleman, had altered cry in
dicating sharp pain: that indeed she had at
tackled the gentlemen. but that she within
her right; that apart from the rudeness of the
act the violent and sudden cold occasioned By
the snow might, in certain circumstances, do the